GDT: 7/25/08 - DET (52-49) VS CWS (57-43) - 7:05 p.m. ET

Two months ago, no one would've thought the Tigers' upcoming series would mean too much. Now? This three-game set could go a long way in determining Detroit's playoff hopes.

The Tigers open a series against the White Sox on Friday at Comerica Park. In early June, Detroit was 12 games under .500 and 10 out of first place. Now the Tigers are just 5 1/2 back.

This series matters, but manager Jim Leyland was quick to remind that it is just July.

"All I'm hoping for is to somehow be playing for something when September comes along," Leyland said. "If we're doing that, I'll be happy."

Detroit is 4-5 against the White Sox, having swept Chicago at home in June. Those games helped start the current stretch of good play the Tigers are riding.

If they can continue to keep up their play, they'll likely have a chance to catch Chicago and Minnesota and make a run at the playoffs.

"I'll put it simple," Leyland said. "We've got to hit a couple winning streaks and they've got to hit a couple bumps in the road."

Pitching matchup

DET: LHP Nate Robertson (6-8, 5.69 ERA)
Robertson took the mound last Saturday at Baltimore with a six-run lead, but it was gone by the end of the third. So was Robertson, whom the Orioles hit around for seven runs on eight hits -- six of them singles -- over 2 1/3 innings. He has battled high hit totals in four of his last five starts, the exception being nine innings of one-run ball July 6 at Seattle. He's keeping the ball on the ground, but it hasn't resulted in the outs that he needs. Robertson has split his two starts against the White Sox this season, including 6 1/3 innings of three-run ball to beat them on June 10 in Detroit.

CWS: RHP Gavin Floyd (10-6, 3.52 ERA)
Despite a quality start against the Royals, Floyd picked up his second loss in a row Saturday night at U.S. Cellular Field. He gave up three runs in the sixth, but only one was earned. Ross Gload hit a hard grounder toward Joe Crede that bounced off his glove and continued rolling into left field. The error led to John Buck's home run the next at-bat, and the White Sox never recovered. Floyd walked three more batters in the game, too, having now issued at least three free passes in each of his past three starts. Floyd faced Detroit in back-to-back starts to open the season. He gave up a combined three runs in 13 1/3 innings to pick up his first two wins.

Tidbits

Leyland said Robertson keeps a consistent tempo on the mound when he's pitching successfully. ... Placido Polanco is in the midst of an eight-game hitting streak. ... Edgar Renteria had two hits for the second straight game on Wednesday. ... Detroit outscored Kansas City, 33-6, in its three-game sweep.

On the Internet

MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• FSN-HD

On radio
• 97.1FM/1270AM

Up next

• Thurs., July 24: Off-day

• Fri., July 25: Tigers (Nate Robertson, 6-8, 5.69) vs. White Sox (Gavin Floyd, 10-6, 3.52), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sat., July 26: Tigers (Justin Verlander, 8-9, 3.95) vs. White Sox (John Danks, 7-4, 3.03), 7:05 p.m. ET

• Sun., July 27: Tigers (Zach Miner, 4-3, 3.73) vs. White Sox (Javier Vazquez, 7-8, 4.57), 1:05 p.m. ET

• Mon., July 28: Tigers (Kenny Rogers, 8-6, 4.48) at Indians (Paul Byrd, 4-10, 5.28), 7:05 p.m. ET

Blog if used

STARTING LINEUPS:


Chi White Sox
Cabrera, SS
Pierzynski, C
Quentin, LF
Dye, RF
Thome, DH
Konerko, 1B
Swisher, CF
Fields, 3B
Ramirez, 2B


Detroit
:curtis: Granderson, CF
:placido: Polanco, 2B
Guillen, 3B
Ordonez, RF
Cabrera, 1B
:joyce: Joyce, LF
:sheff: Sheffield, DH
:pudge: Rodriguez, C
:edgar: Renteria, SS

Mark Dent wrote:

Detroit outscored Kansas City, 33-6, in its three-game sweep.

WOW -- SUCH FIRE POWER!

YEAH

81 degrees at Game Time

Chance of Isolated T Storm

Will Nate kill our momentum? I like him as a person but not on the roster at the moment.

I really hope i'm wrong and he proves me better!

swiss_tiger wrote:

Will Nate kill our momentum?

If anyone can do it, it's him!

YAY!!! Series against Cleveland coming up!!!


I can watch!!!

Wow... I'm not going to see many games in the next week.

Tonight (no game) - Babysitting
Tomorrow - Party
Saturday - Party
Sunday - Babysitting
Monday - I get to watch! (I think)
Tuesday - The REAL Mudhens game....
Wednesday - Concert
Thursday - Maybe get to watch?
Friday - Wedding

I have way too much going on.

in July! Let's make it a good one GUYS!!!

TIGERS GONNA SWEEP THE SOX

bobrob2004 wrote:

swiss_tiger wrote:

Will Nate kill our momentum?

If anyone can do it, it's him!

Why the if? There's no ifs ands or buts about it.

Nate will kick ass!

gs78 wrote:

Nate will kick ass!

There's a first time for everything.

He gets flustered and then can't get it back.

He needs to take some Justin lessons!

Even young Gala got better baseball smarts!

Robertson was lights out in Seattle couple weeks back



Nate's Cool!


Believe in him


He will shut down the White Sox

When Nate has his stuff together, he can pitch great!

He Can


And Will



Let's root for Nate


Gum Time

GO NATE!!!

Kenny's all for Gum Time!

I so had gum time today just to do it. Did it the other day at my old teams game then they ended up rallying 5 runs.

Normal GDT tomorrow?

gdennis59 wrote:

Normal GDT tomorrow?

Yes?

Im hoping so!

GoGetEmTigers wrote:

When Nate has his stuff together, he can pitch great!

Too bad Halley's Comet comes around more often.